I can't add fluid until I get out of work later in the day. But, the car developed a leak in a line that crosses the front of the car. I drove the car and slowly started noticing some slip issues. When I got off the highway it would slip terribly at low speeds. I babied it home, but it was really bad on a couple of hills.
Do I have any chance or is it now shot? It is a 98 taurus with a ax4n that HAD mobil 1 in it. Now there probably isn't much left. My plan was to get some cheap fluid and see if it will run. If not, no sense in fixing the line. The car has rust and 194,000 miles. I just hate to see it die like this.
What are my odds that adding fluid will get her going again?

That is my hope. I really beat the old girl to get home. It was 4 am and coming home from a NYC airport. A tow and repair in the city would have cost me more than the car is worth. My only hope is that the 10 degree weather kept things a little cooler than usual. If this thing works, I will be very impressed. I won't know until later. Have others gotten away with this, or does this usually mean death?

Fords are usually forgiving and get you home, but wow...the transmission in a Taurus? Nick's got as good an idea as any. If it's one of the cooler lines from the tranny to the radiator or back, use double clamps at each end of the rubber hose, and sand the burrs off where you cut the rotted line out. If you have a flaring tool, use it to make a double flare for the hose to fit over (extra leak prevention, especially if it's the high-side line).

As long as you didn't rev the crap out of the car to get it uphill, you have a decent chance of no permanent damage.

__________________
"Mmm. Do, or do not. There is no try."

Someday, some hairy big-eared little alien is gonna steal that from me.

Driving a 1980 Buick Skylark near O'Hare Airport when steam appeared in front of the hood (busy road maybe 1981). Pulled off road when I could -by then car was struggling to move forward. Opened hood looked under. Tranny fluid pouring onto ground and heavy steam was coming from vent on top of tran case--like a tea kettle!!! Had car towed. Dealership wanted to replace tranny--told boss--we decided to have it filled and I drive elsewhere. Just kept driving the car another 30-40,000 miles and then had it traded over year later. Only issue from incident was slightly harder shift and slight burnt smell from oil.

I remember when one of my dad's work trucks (98 Chevy) did something similar. I saw him pull up at the place we were at, come inside, and bam, this shower of fluid starts pouring out of the underbelly. Bye bye transmission fluid... He called the main yard and they came and towed it off.

All the Chevy's he drove were maintenance pigs. His F-250 hasn't given him any trouble.

ok, here is the situation. I replaced the piece of line with hose. I have it filled to the proper level. It was down 6-7 quarts. My once beautiful shifting tranny, now has a hard 1-2 shift. It hangs in 1st too long if I am on the accelerator. I have to accelerate slowly or left off the gas to allow it to dump into second, otherwise,I will get the hard shift. All the other gears are smooth and there is not slipping.
So, what is the verdict?

It might be that the burnt oil inside clogged the filter and now you have lower pressure.
You might need to drain the transmission pan and replace the filter.
Driving it like that it only accelerate the wear on the clutches...

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